Foot-rest for pianos



(No Model.)

J. M. TAYLOR.

FOOT BEST FOR PIANOS.

No. 359.695. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

PETERS. Mom-Lnm n hu. wahin lon. D. C.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MITCHELL TAYLOR, OF MASON CITY, ILLINOIS.

FOOT-REST FOR PIANOS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,695, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed December 31, 1885. Serial No. 187,307. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, J AMES MIToHELL TAY- LOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mason City, in the county of Mason and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Rests for Pianos for the use of Children, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The object of my device is to afford to children a firm support for the feet while sitting erect on the piano-stool raised sufficiently high to allow a free use of the hands and arms on the key-board of the instrument, and at the same time giving them full control of all pianopedal attachments; ,also, to allow children to assume a natural and graceful attitude at the piano, give them complete control of the instrument while learning to perform upon it,

and to avert the inj urious physiological effects of an unnatural and strained position. These several objects I attain by the construction substantially as shown in the drawing, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing, which represents a perspective View of my invention, partly in section, A designates a portion ofa pianocasc and keyboard, to the under side of which are secured screw-eyes a, or other like devices, for engaging therewith suitable hooks, I), upon the upper ends of tubular arms B, the lower ends of said arms having formed thereon a rigid collar, 0, provided with a screw-hole to receive the end of a set-screw, d.

Entering the tubular arms B B are extensible rods C, held in their extended or adjusted position with relation to the arms by the setscrews (1. I

'The rods C at their lower ends are screwthreaded, and pass through holes in a footboard, D, of anysuitable size and shape, said board being firmly held to the rods by clamping-nuts e, which engage the screw-threads 011 the rods above and below the board, asshown.

In order to lengthen or shorten the foot-rest,

therods are adjusted in the tubular arms,and

held in their adjusted position by the setscrews.

It will be noticed that the foot-board has no support under it, and is therefore free to swing outward to adapt itself to the comfort of the user, and in connection therewith the board is vertically adjustable, to increase or diminish its height by the means hereinbefore described. These two features,when brought together,are considered of great importance in a foot-rest, especially when intended for the use of children, to allow a free use of the hands and arms on the key-board of the piano,and to insure a natural and graceful attitude.

It is evident that any well-known means may be substituted for the hooks b, and any well-known means may be employed for detachably connecting the board D to the rods C in place of the clamping-nuts e, such changes coming within the scope of my invention, and which I reserve the right to make.

I am aware a rocking-chair foot-rest carrying wheels has been made adjustable in a pipe-section carrying a supporting-hook, and that various other rests have been made adj ustable to accommodate persons of different sizes; but I am not aware that a foot-rest comprising a foot-plate, D, secured by adjustingnutse e to pendants C, and pipe-sections having set-screws and hooks,has ever been constructed to serve with eyes a, as on a piano or the like. Thejam-nuts 0 provide an additional adj ustment.

\Vhat I claim as new is The foot-rest for pianos herein described, the same consisting of the foot-plate D, the pendent rods C, adj ustably secured thereto by jam-nuts e e, the pipe-sections B, the set-screws operating through rigid collars c to adj ustably secure the hangers or rods C therein, and the hooks I), engaging the eyes a of the piano, all constructed for joint operation, as set forth.

JAMES MITCHELL TAYLOR.

Vitnesses:

HENRY D. HOLLOWAY, REUBEN G. Coon. 

